ASTROSBABE's Blog

Sorry I haven't posted about the ASTROS in a few weeks but, I've been busy.  Work, School, more work, a death in the family have all had me running ragged...but, below is the latest update from SPRING TRAINING 2008

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The Houston Astros made two roster moves on Wednesday, optioning right-hander Jack Cassel to Triple-A Round Rock and reassigning right-hander Runelvys Hernandez to Minor League camp.

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Kazuo Matsui could miss the first two weeks of the season while he recovers from a surgical procedure to repair an anal fissure. The second baseman was officially placed on the disabled list Tuesday, retroactive to March 21.
Originally, the timetable for recovery was two to three weeks. But general manager Ed Wade said Tuesday Matsui could need four weeks from the surgery date of March 17 to fully recover and return to the field.

That means Matsui may not make his Astros debut until April 15, when the Astros open a road series with the Phillies.

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Cooper unhappy with fundamentals
Plans to work on pickoffs and rundowns after miscues

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Ausmus to be emergency infielder
Backup catcher to add extra duties away from home plate

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Sampson leaves with bruised right hip
Pitcher hit with line drive, exits two innings later in game

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Along with a "Go Astros" rally cry at Minute Maid Park this year, you may also hear shouts of "Go Green." In this age of environmental awareness, Houston's baseball team is keeping up with modern times with its own unique initiative.
The Astros recently announced that they will launch an "Astros Play Green" campaign on Earth Day on April 22. The campaign, building off a club initiative that began last summer, will strive to create awareness regarding environmental initiatives in the City of Houston

Astros players will wear green Astros baseball caps during the game against the San Diego Padres on April 22, and an exposition with local earth-friendly vendors will take place before the 7:05 p.m. CT game. The first 10,000 fans will receive a green cap with the Astros Play Green logo courtesy of Waste Management and a canvas eco-tote bag compliments of NYMEX.

Astros employees will participate by wearing green T-shirts with the Astros Play Green mission statement on the back and the Astros Play Green logos on the front.

The Astros Play Green campaign will include several environmental initiatives for the Astros and Minute Maid Park in 2008, which include:

• The club will compost ballpark infield and outfield grass cuttings to use as fertilizer.
• Sales collateral and other paper products such as season-ticket brochures, mini-plan brochures, group sales brochures, suite rental postcards, napkins, paper towels and pocket schedules will be printed on partial post-consumer recycled materials.
• All light bulbs used in the ballpark will be recycled.
• Organic vegetables and ingredients will be used at salad concept stands.
• The Astros are changing the manual paper towel dispensers in restrooms to automatic paper towel dispensers in order to save on the amount of paper used.

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